“Why is Sapphire dressed up in that sexy chef outfit!” Serenity demands.

  “She’s a seductive slime?” Mateo replies.

  “Ahhhh, stop talking,” Serenity turns to Stitches narrowing her eyes, “and you, we’ll talk later.” Serenity storms up some stairs and slams the door to one of the rooms.

  Mateo turns to Okami and Terror and they shrug their shoulders. Jade steps forward holding a drawing pad against her chest.

  “There’s no fucking furniture in here!” Serenity’s voice bellows from upstairs.

  “I’ll go help her, I’ve read a little about void palaces,” Jade says scurrying away.

  Sapphire steps into the room placing several large plates of food on the table before bowing and saying, chocolate. They all sit cross-legged at the table.

  “So, this is your palace, I’m surprised we weren’t immediately sucked into the void,” Okami states.

  “Terror is curious as to why he is not floating in infinite darkness also.”

  Mateo takes a bite of the strange stew Sapphire has concocted for them.

  Persistent buff activated- Holy stew of the boardrel multinational cooking competition. Your stats have been increased by three points for twenty-one hours. Don’t forget to kiss the chef.

  “This stew has excellent flavor and consistency, perhaps you would allow me a night or two to examine your lady slime alone?” Okami asks.

  “Absolutely not,” Mateo replies.

  “Fair enough,” Okami says taking another bite.

  “Terror finds stew is less satisfying than reveling in the defeat of his enemies but is not far from the joy of vigorous intimacy with a female.”

  “I’m glad Jade went upstairs with Serenity,” Mateo sighs.

  After making his party acquainted with his void palace, Mateo and friends return to the Lonely Lycanthrope inn.

  The inn, now teaming with wolven females of various fur colors, seems fuller than before. Several patrons of varying races have entered from the road seeking refuge from a small storm outside. One of the female wolven approaches Mateo at his table making her presence known by sniffing him rudely.

  “Well, you smell awfully fuckable, you feeling lonely?”

  Stitches interjects in Serenity’s absence. Serenity falling ill to the effects of the blood moon remains in Mateo’s void palace. Something Natalia assures Mateo is fine. If she wishes to exit the palace she simply has to walk to the front gate and open it. The same for Jade whom is accompanying her.

  “He is quite unfuckable, you could say he is devoid of fuckery.”

  “A kitten, my apologies, I thought you might have higher standards, name’s Lunae,” she snipes a glance at Okami, “and I’m such a lonely wolf girl.”

  Lunae is the same race as Okami, which seems to be a ‘wolven’. Her fur isn’t the brilliant silver like Okami’s, but an inviting brunette. Her busty figure is adorned by a lace corset that barely covers her furry bosom pressing it together firmly. Her lower extremities are covered by an obsidian scale skirt that only extends down her fur covered legs mid thigh. Okami meets her gaze standing from his table.

  “My apologies Mateo, I seem to have become very ill very quickly, I must retire to my room immediately,” he says before stepping away.

  Mateo turns to Stitches confused.

  “That was strange, how is Serenity?”

  “She’s incapacitated; the blood ecstasy ritual will have her out for at least a day, Jade said she’d watch over her in the palace.”

  “Oh, well, are you hungry?” Mateo asks.

  “Are you asking me to dinner?” Stitches replies with a twinkle in her eyes.

  “I don’t know what you women see in me,” Mateo says rubbing his neck.

  “It’s not what we see in you, but that we see you in us,” Stitches replies biting one of her claws seductively.

  “Natalia!”

  Natalia appears on Mateo’s shoulder tilting her head as she notices a near invisible gas filling the room. Well, not technically a gas.

  “Mateo, the female wolven are all giving off pheromones,” Natalia sighs.

  “What does that mean?”

  “The bitches are in heat, and it is affecting certain members of your party,” Natalia replies.

  Party member Keeliyah is requesting a private chat. Accept: Yes, No

  “Accept.”

  Keeliyah: Mateo, I can’t control my desire for you, I want you right now.

  Mateo: The wolven females around us are affecting your judgement.

  Keeliyah: I don’t care, take me now, shove your hard desire inside me and make me submit to your will!

  Mateo: Serenity would be mad, and I would be disappointed in myself if I did that to her.

  Keeliyah: It’ll be our little secret, take me now, I want you so bad!

  Mateo: Goodnight Keeliyah.

  Keeliyah: What are you doing?

  Mateo hits Stitches with a mild paralysis poison and she falls unconscious.

  “Huh, I’m surprised that worked,” he says aloud returning the unopened poison bottle to his inventory as Terror laughs.

  “Terror finds the results of your violence most amusing.”

  “Not what I really meant to do, can you handle things down here while I take Stitches to bed?” Mateo asks.

  “Terror immune to wolf girl pheromones, Terror is curious as to how you are immune to them.”

  Mateo stands quickly cradling Stitches in his arms low enough to cover his protruding crotch. Terror laughs and stands placing his hand on Mateo’s shoulder. He leans down placing his tusks by Mateo’s ears after giving an unconscious Stitches a quick glance.

  “Terror is your friend, and also Serenity’s, Jade is fond of Stitches,” his fingers grip Mateo’s shoulder tighter and his ruby eyes turn dull and serious. “Don’t make problem that Terror has to solve with violence.”

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Terror removes his grip from Mateo’s shoulder the threatening look on his face dissolving into revelry as he approaches the bar.

  “Wolfsbane, a round of it,” he pauses pulling in two wolf maidens with his large arms and they run their claws over his massive biceps. “Three for Terror, and two for his new friends.”

  The wolf girls giggle as they begin to flirt with Terror. Mateo purchases a room in the inn and carries Stitches to it petting her soft ears gently. He strips down to his undergarment leaving Stitches in her robe. Though he does remove the hood of her cloak.

  “Forgive me Stitches, it isn’t that I don’t like you, but I’m a one-woman kind of guy,” Mateo says as Stitches purrs gently next to him.

  “You know she’s asleep right, she can’t hear anything you say,” Natalia states landing on the pillow between him and Stitches.

  Mateo scoops Natalia up with his hand rubbing her against his cheek in a gentle manner.

  “She can’t hear my words, but I have a feeling that she can sense my intentions, she would be disappointed if I betrayed Serenity, as I too would be disappointed in myself.”

  “Well, what about polygamy, Okami is convinced you’re building a harem, I personally don’t see the upside of carrying the emotional baggage of more than one mate, but I’m just a pixie so what do I know?”

  “I’m a little disappointed in you Natalia, you can read my thoughts, and you think I’d want to treat women so poorly,” Mateo sighs, “It’s getting late, we should rest.”

  “You’re right, do you mind if I, I mean it is a big bed,” Natalia says sitting up.

  “You can be big Natalia, just don’t wake Stitches.”

  The path from Satsuki to Heroldin requires one to travel west and then south. The lonely Lycanthrope inn being at the intersection of these two roads. The band of bards known as the Harmony Casters takes this road after being pushed out of Satsuki.

  “Yetsu this sucks,” Azul complains.

  “We are almost there Azul, just be patient,” Yetsu replies.

  “Accipiter, can I ride on your back again?” Azul asks.

  “Sorry lady Zedrus, but my wings are tired,” he replies.

  “Ruby nears the Lonely Lycanthrope, Ruby and friends should rest there for the night,” Ruby the ruksha maiden states.

  “An excellent idea Ruby, you hear that Azul, just a little longer and we’ll be at an inn,” Yetsu says with a smile.

  “Yay!” Azul claps.

  Eleven hours later. The party of bards reach the Lonely Lycanthrope inn. Accipiter struggles to get through the entrance trying not to hit Azul’s horns on the door frame as he carries the sleeping cryogre on his back.

  The door to the Lonely Lycanthrope Inn screeches open as the Harmony Casters step in. The small crowd of customers falls silent recognizing them as they enter. A young, red-skinned ogre around the same age as Azul stands confronting them.

  “You’ve come from Satsuki, I heard it had fallen, is this true?” He asks.

  The Harmony Casters stop in-front of him and Accipiter offloads Azul waking her.

  “We’re looking for a man named Mateo,” Yetsu says.

  “Don’t ignore me Godsdamnit!” the young red skinned man yells.

  Yetsu sighs turning his attention to the young pyrogre.

  “What’s your name kid?” He asks.

  “Andesine, but I go by Andy.”

  “Look, Andy, when we left Satsuki,” Yetsu pauses placing his thumb and forefinger against his forehead. Taking a deep breath, he clenches his teeth staring forward at the young pyrogre as he tries to shove all his emotions away. With a stern almost emotionless look he stares into Andy’s marble white eyes as warm tears run over his violet cheeks.

  “There is nothing left there but death.”

  “I understand,” Andy says giving off an audible sigh. He takes a few heavy breaths his head hung low before his eyes rise returning to Yetsu’s gaze.

  “Are you heading to Heroldin to help the twins then?” He asks.

  “We are.”

  “Could I join you?”

  “I’m sorry, we really must speak with Mateo, it is a matter of urgency,” Yetsu responds unsure of what the young pyrogre is seeking.

  Andy raises his hand running his fingers along the hilt of a large blade slung over his back. Tightly woven Arachmira silk adorns the handle twisting artfully up to a glowing ruby rune encapsulated at the hilt by black diamond crystal. The blade itself is unseen in its scabbard. Glyphs on the hilt of the blade are a signature telling that the blade has been forged by a master craftsman.

  The fact that the handle is covered in Arachmira silk is a feat in itself. An Arachmira is the twisted offspring of a large arachnid and a chimera. Few are known to exist, perhaps because few see them and live to tell of their existence.

  Yetsu examines the young man. Besides his legendary blade he is also adorned in armor that holds a high value and rarity. Covering his body like that of a barbarian, leather straps wrap about his chest holding together obsidian and black diamond rings. The male version of bikini armor. A long kilt runs from his waist stopping mid shin. It’s decorated with small thin plates of an ebony-colored metal sewn in by golden threads.

  Andesine isn’t the normal wide shouldered almost dwarf like orcen that most ogres are. He has more of a compact and dense muscled build. While still strong he seems built more for speed and dexterity than anything, which begs the question of why he wields such a large blade. Size doesn’t necessarily mean strength in Gottes and Yetsu can tell this ogre is far stronger than he appears. Still, he is young and lacks experience.

  “This isn’t a bounty, or a quest, this is war, are you sure you can handle that?” Yetsu asks.

  Andy draws his blade planting it firmly into the wooden floor of the tavern. The massive blade is a serrated great-sword that shines with a black chrome finish. Andy takes a few heavy breaths as he stares down at the floor before returning eye contact with Yetsu.

  “I lost my three younger sisters when Satsuki fell, I should have been there for them, I should have died instead of them, but I didn’t, and now I have to live without them.”

  Azul wakes yawning loudly as she stretches her arms. Andy’s expression changes from a very serious one to a curious lustful desire. His hand retracts from his blade his gaze trained on the young cryogre.

  “Holy shit, Yetsu?” Mateo yells emerging from a room on the upper floor of the tavern.

  A couple of female lycanthropes sigh ordering a drink as Mateo steps downstairs. Terror stands holding out his hands inviting them away from the reunion with the band of bards. They perk up almost falling over themselves as they fall face first into his chest in a drunken stupor.

  Terror ordered the drink called ‘wolfsbane’ because it is known to get wolven excessively drunk very easily. The effect is far less potent on orcen. He leads the two wolven females to a room upstairs where they quickly succumb to the alcohol falling asleep on his bed.

  Mateo, now alone except for a few patrons, approaches the Harmony Casters. Azul’s eyes grow wide, and she bolts toward Mateo casting herself onto him like a spell. Mateo notices the young cryogre approaching him like an out-of-control locomotive. She leaps into the air as Natalia appears beside Mateo.

  “Catch her, she’ll be disappointed if you don’t,” Natalia says munching on a raspberry filled oatmeal sugar cake.

  Mateo catches her in his embrace, and she giggles audibly wrapping her arms around his neck. Now cradling a young, very playful cryogre in his arms, Mateo returns his gaze to Yetsu.

  “Mateo, I thought I’d never see you again, how is Serenity, or Stitches, they willing to share yet?” She says rubbing her nose against his chest.

  Natalia laughs as Mateo leans back trying to avoid her horns. The pyrogre steps between Mateo and Yetsu raising his blade.

  “I challenge you to single combat for the female cryogre!” He yells.

  Mateo runs his fingers through Azul’s long dark hair slowly and smiles. He steps up to Andy cradling Azul in his arms as her long blue whip like tail darts about the air.

  “Hey kid, could you fuck off, the adults need to talk,” Mateo says making a shooing motion towards Andy.

  “Yeah, go throw your fire balls at someone else,” Azul adds.

  “Mateo, if you are rested, we need to return to Heroldin as soon as possible, the chaos twins have already requested my assistance, which means Heroldin is in danger of falling, we can’t let that happen, Heroldin is a major trade route in Gottes, if it falls then the rest of Gottes is in danger,” Yetsu says.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll head out in the morning,” Mateo replies carrying Azul to his room.

  Mateo lays Azul on his bed by Stitches and she grabs his wrist as he attempts to step away.

  “Are you just going to leave me here?” Azul asks.

  “Yes, Stitches is right there if you need to cuddle.”

  “But I don’t want to cuddle with Stitches, I want to cuddle with you.”

  Mateo sighs running his hand over her horns gently.

  “I like you Azul, I really like you, but it isn’t how you like me, just stay with Stitches, and don’t say you aren’t tired because I can see you’re exhausted.”

  “Ok, I guess if you can’t be bothered to spend any time with me,” Azul replies turning her gaze to the floor as she rubs her shoulder seeming hurt.

  “Mateo, Heroldin is in need of your assistance,” Yetsu interrupts.

  “Indeed, it is,” Rick says also entering Mateo’s room.

  Beatrice ambushes Mateo from behind gripping his arm pulling him form the bed. She spins him into a wall and leans in licking his neck before nibbling on his ear and whispering.

  “I could be grinding your pelvis into dust with my desire.”

  “I kind of need my pelvis,” Mateo replies attempting to escape her lustful grasp.

  Azul shoves her away taking up a protective stance in-front of Mateo.

  “Back off vial seductress!” Azul yells.

  Mateo wipes spit off his neck giving off an audible sigh.

  “Can we not do this right now?” Mateo says his voice ringing with irritation.

  “He’s not wrong Beatrice, we don’t have time for this, Heroldin is in grave danger once again, and I’m afraid Mateo is the only one who has the power to save it, you did receive Heroldin’s blessing didn’t you?” Rick asks.

  “Yes, though I don’t know what it does.”

  “It gives you the blessing of Heroldin,” Rick says seeming confused.

  “Yes, I read that, it is called Heroldin’s blessing,” Mateo says irritably.

  “That should be straight forward, you are blessed by Heroldin.”

  “Yes, but what does that do?” Mateo questions.

  “I don’t know,” Rick confesses.